As every owner of a German shepherd knows that, The German shepherds are very healthy and muscular dogs and have a high energy level with a healthy appetite.

Therefore, they require a food which is of high quality and which meets the level of perfection they should be fed with.

To avoid such problems like obesity and also some hereditary problems that generally occurs in the German shepherd, provide them a high-quality diet.

As we know that the German shepherds are carnivores, it means that they require a high amount of protein in their diet. The proteins are the not only, but a big reason in keeping them strong and healthy.

Protein plays a major role in the growth of your German shepherd and it is recommended that your GSD should get at least 22% of the protein in their diet.

It is the best option to feed your GSD with pure protein instead of buying a poor quality dog food which has corn syrup added as a filler which is extremely harmful to a dog.

Apart from proteins, fats are also the necessary fora proper diet of your German shepherd. The fat comes from a protein and gives taste to dog’s meal. however, feeding too much of the fatty foods to your dog can be harmful to its health while not providing too many fats will cause skin issues. The German shepherd should get 8% of fat in their food to remain healthy.

Look for ingredients that help to maintain a healthy coat and are easy to digest. This will help to prevent Gastrointestinal upset and will also ensure that your German shepherd properly metabolizes the minerals and vitamins present in the food.

Daily Caloric Requirements for your German Shepherd

As we know that the German shepherds are usually large dogs and weigh between 60 to 90 pounds. according to the NationalResearchCouncilOf NationalAcademies,

inactive or older dogs of this weight range requires between 1272 and 1540 calories per day. The active dogs need 1740 to 2100 calories per day. Feed your German Shepherd according to the caloric requirements for an active dog.

What about the German Shepherd Puppies?

Well, when it comes to puppies, we just come to know that the puppy GSDs require or consume more food than the adult GSD.

As the little ones are more curious and because they are exploring their environment most of the time, they need a high energy diet, that too several times a day.

Food Requirements for puppies

The puppies need a constant supply of energy, which means more calories to keep their energy levels high and help them develop into happy and healthy adult dogs.

Feeding a puppy is a lot different than feeding an adult dog, so you’ll need to stay on a regular feeding schedule. You should also keep in mind that their growing bodies need more nutrients than the adult dogs do.

As a general rule, you can tell that you are feeding your puppy enough if you cannot see or feel their rib cage. For humans, this is considered as a sign of malnutrition.

It’s actually a guideline to figure out if your puppy is getting enough calories from their diet or not.

How often do you feed a puppy?

Young puppies need at least 3 to 4 smaller meals per day. You can divide this food in to two larger meals buy make sure that you are not feeding them so much that they just start to vomit. Puppies don’t necessarily regulate themselves as far as stuffing their face goes, so you’ll also need to do it for them.

You may also need to know that puppy food is a lot different than the adult food because the manufacturers put more emphasis on the different nutrients puppies do need while they are developing in their internal, muscular and skeletal systems. Once they become adult dogs, their nutritional requirements change. Which means you should feed the puppies with the specific food which is manufactured for them.

Food Ingredients

The primary ingredient in your dog food should be a whole meat protein such as poultry, fish or beef. Ingredients in dog foods are listed generally in decreasing order by weight.

The first listed ingredients should be sources of proteins, which are followed by carbohydrates, grains, fats and vegetables. barley, rice and rolled oats are easily digestible sources sources of grains and carbohydrates, while corn, wheat or soy are slightly less easy to digest.

Foods that contain vegetable and fish oils provides healthy fats and also omega-3 fatty acids to keep your German shepherds coat shiny. As we have discussed above that carbohydrates, fats and proteins provide a great amount of energy required for this active breed.

Natural preservatives such as vitamin E or vitamin c may be preferable to synthetic food preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole and also bvutylated hydroxytoulene and ethoxyquin.

These synthetic preservatives are controversial and may often cause health issues which will harm your shepherd in different ways.

Should you feed them with dry food or canned?

Well, for the people who are newly introduced to dogs, specially The German shepherds, it might be confusing for them that which type of food should they feed their doggy with?

There is a variety of option that you can choose from. But somehow, the biggest debate for dog food is, should they be fed with canned food or dry food ? Which one is healthier of the two? which one is better?

Well, in order to choose the best option, first you need to know all about them. Because of the reason that GSDs generally rely on their food to grow and stay healthy, you should choose more carefully. If you feed your dog with the wrong food, it will cause a lot of health issues in them.

Although, let us differentiate between canned and dry dog food for you:

Dry Dog Food

The Dry dog food is one of the most popular dog foods available in the market. There are several reasons of getting this type of food for your dog. The dry dog food is convenient, affordable and also is available in greater quantity.

However there are certain cons to this type of gs food as it has a very little quantity of water in it. the drawback of this food is , that it can cause dehydration and liver problems in your dog.

Expert veterinarians around the world suggest that dog owners should feed their pets with a moderate diet which comprises of both dry and wet dog food.

Tid Bit; Organic food is becoming more and more popular nowadays.

Some advantages of Dry dog food

Good for your German shepherds’s teeth and makes them stronger and healthier.

Easy to get.

Convenient to feed.

Reduces palque and tartar buildup from your dog’s teeth.

Good for your doggy’s oral health.

Helps to reduce stress and kill the urge of chewing on your shoes and furniture.

Lasts longer than canned food.

Affordable

Few Disadvantages of Dry Dog food or Kibble

Causes liver failure and digestion problems.

Contains preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.

Your dog might have trouble in swallowing dry food.

Strict dry food can cause extreme dehydration.

It only contains 10% of moisture which is insufficient for GSDs hydration needs.

Canned Food or wet Dog Food

This type of dog food is more healthier than the dry dog food. It contains almost 80% of water, which means it will easily meet the hydration needs of your GSD. However, the canned food are more expensive as compared to the dry dog food. In addition, it cant be used for a long interval.

Canned food needs to be fed in higher quantity as compared to dry dog food. They are not that much tasty or delicious as compared to the dry dog food, but it is more efficient when it comes to fulfill the GSDs protein requirement,

Some Advantages of Canned Dog Food

contains 80% water which is enough to meet your dog’s hydration requirement.

Has higher content of protein and fat that is best for you GSD,

Doesn’t have higher amount of carbohydrates.

Easy to digest.

Complete diet for your GSD in general.

Few Disadvantages of canned food

It is soft, which means it won’t meet your doggy’s chewing requirements.

Doesn’t keep the dog’s teeth clean from tartar.

More expensive.

can expire when left open in sunlight.

Canned food that is left in the dog’s bowl should be thrown away if it is open for more than 2 hours.

It is more susceptible for catching bacteria if left open.

Not a travel friendly food.

Top 5 brands of Dry dog food

Royal Canine Nutrition Giant

Precise Holistic Complete

Redpaw X-series Fitness

Tuffy’s nutrisource

Taste Of The Wild

Top 5 Brands of Canned Dog Food

Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free

Natural Balance Ultra Premium

Purina Alpo Chop House

IAMS Proactive Health

Pedigree Choice Cuts

Wrap Up:

We have told you as much detail as we could about the Dry dog food, feeding your puppy and adult and their daily food requirements. we also have told you about canned food and the advantages and disadvantages of both dry and wet food.

Both are good in their own way and have flaws also. You can also use alternative food if you don’t want to feed them with either of these.

You can bake food at home and can add some beef, meat, and vegetables in it which suites best for your GSD and which can meet it’s requirements perfectly.

All you need to do is just to add the right amount of proteins, fats and other things in it so that you doggy remains healthy. Although, the choice is your’s if you want to feed them with dry dog food or a wet one.

We suggest you feed them with both in the right proportion so that your dog will have every food requirement and will remain healthy for a long time.